Warnings for Sindh: spectre of floods raised

As the Sindh province is braced for the fury of more than 0.6 million cusecs of water tomorrow (Tuesday), super floods in rivers Indus, Chenab and Sutlej are wreaking the south western districts of Bhakkar, Layyah, Muzaffar-garh, Multan, D G Khan, Rajanpur, Bahawalpur and Rahimyar Khan. The Flood Forecasting Division said here on Sunday that 4,68,000 cusecs water is flowing in the mighty Indus at Taunsa barrage, 4,17,000 cusecs at Guddu, 3,62,000 cusecs at Sukkur barrage and 185,200 cusecs at the Kotri barrage, about 100kms upstream the Arabian Sea. Out of this flow, 153,000 cusecs of water is being released in the Indus Delta.

FFD has issued a warning that River Indus at Guddu is likely to attain high flood level ranging between 600,000 and 650,000 cusecs between 20th August 2013 to 21st August 2013. The River Indus at Sukkur is also likely to attain a high flood level ranging between 600,000 and 650,000 cusecs during 21st August -2013 to 22nd August 2013.

The peak of the flood in the River Chenab and its tributaries is now passing through the Trimmu headworks in district Jhang after causing a considerable damage to crops and property and inundating more than 700 villages in central Punjab districts of Sialkot, Narowal, Gujrat, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujranwala, and Hafizabad. Punjab irrigation engineers are releasing 79,000 cusecs of water in the Indus River downstream the Punjnad barrage on the Punjab-Sindh border.

While the water levels in central Punjab are receding the low-lying areas of southern Punjab along the rivers have been put on red alert; and the army has been called in and rescue teams have rushed to the affected areas.

RIVERS POSITIONS

River Indus at Taunsa and Guddu, River Ravi at Shahdara and Balloki are in medium flood level.

The River Indus at Chashma and Sukkur, the River Kabul at Nowshera, the River Chenab at Khanki and Qadirabad and the River Sutlej at Sulemanki are in low flood.

ALERT: The River Sutlej at G S Wala is likely to attain a medium flood level during the next 24-hours.

MONSOON & WEATHER FORECAST FOR TODAY

Seasonal low lies over north-east Balochistan and adjoining areas. Another low lies over northeast Punjab and adjoining areas. Weak monsoon currents are still penetrating North-eastern parts of the country.